About Museum

The State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow is the only museum in Russia that collects, preserves, researches and promotes artworks of the Asian region. It holds a collection of masterpieces from over a hundred countries of Asia and Africa.

The State Museum of Oriental Art is one of the biggest cultural institutions in the world for preservation, research, and display of Oriental art. It is located in the center of Moscow in the historical building known as the Lunins’ House, a private residence built in the early 19th century by the famous architect Domenico Gilardi.

The permanent display of the Museum includes galleries of Chinese, Japanese, Korean art; Southeast Asia and Vietnam; The Caucasus and Middle Asia, including a profound collection of fine art; Iranian art, India, and Buddhist countries of Central Asia. The State Museum of Oriental Arts holds an outstanding collection of art of Nicholas Roerich, world famous painter, theosophist and writer, and his son Svyatoslav Roerich, most of which is on display. The Museum preserves a wide archeological collection which also includes applied art of the Northern people of Russia.

The Museum holds a wide program of activities on an annual basis. Those include: tea ceremonies, yoga, master classes and workshops, lectures, classes for children, music concerts, films, conferences for researchers and specialists in Oriental Art.

Director General of the State Museum of Oriental Art – Dr. Alexander Sedov.